Means for supporting and tensioning tennis nets and the like



June 26, 1923.

D. V. ESKELL MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND TENSIONING TENNIS NETS AND THE LIKE Filed OCT.. 29

i when the net `is taken down.`

Patented .lune Z6, 1923.

iiMTED STATES tatami DOUGLAS vieron lnsrrnriri, or'nnvv venir, n. Y,

Means non surronrrnennn rniasronrns 'ennuis ners AND THE Linn.

eppncann inea october 2e, 19er serial no. 511,251.` p

To all 'whom t may concern:

Beit knownthat I, Do'UGLAs VICTOR Es xnLL, 'a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of New York-city, in the 5 county of New York and State or" New York,` have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Means for Supporting and Tensioning Tennis Nets and the like, ot which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an adjustable `connection between the cable at the upper edge of a 4tennis net and the post `or other support at one or both ends ofthe net.

' It is afusual practice in the mounting of tennis nets to wrap the cable at the upper edge of the net about a cleat carried by an end post, but in these cases a severe strain is placed on the portion of the cable engaging the cleat resulting in a wear of the iibre at this point and an eventual sagging of the net as a whole. made to remedy this condition bypassing the end of the cable about winding drums and other forms of take-up devices but this involves the use of expensive mechanical constructions which` are not easily `handled and must be either left exposed to the `elements when not in use, or whichy involves the transportation of the heavy mechanism Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide a simpleV form of .construction by means of which the net can be mounted in position and securely condeleterious wear on the connecting parts, and which at the same time will provide a convenient means for `adjusting the tension providing i complicated on the net without i lmechanism to effect this result.

p lncidental to this general desideratum it is among the other objectsof the invention to provide ajstructure which can be demounted with the net andwhich can be easily vcarried with the net and withoutthe addition of any material excessive weight to be ported.

Still another object of .the invention is to provide a form of connection between the net and post, which `when set inoperative position will not possess anygiveorloose play and in this way will `tend to `minimize any tendency of the net to sagat its center. v

The invention further features a demountable post structure and associated conneclAttempts have beenl r nected to the post or other support without tion with the net which can be marketed'as a complete articleof manufacture and readily secured to any net.l

the inventionwill be in part obvious trom an inspectionoi" the accompanying drawings and in part willy be `more fully setfforth in the following particular description of `one `form of mechanism embodying my in* ventionyand the invention also consists in certain new and novel features oi' construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a viewin elevationshowing one end of a tennisr by a connection constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention and also show ing an improved form of pose herein outlined; p

` Figure 2 `is a detailed View of the upper `end of the post shown in Figure l looking at the same `from the side of theshowing in the first figure; and i Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 17 looking in the directionindicated by the arrows.`

In theffollowing description `and in the claims, parts will be `identiied by specific names for convenience of expression but they are intended to application to `similar permit. l, i v

ln'the drawings thereis shown a post 1() for supporting` one end of a tennis net 11 which net is provided at its upper edge with a cable 12 all as is `usual in well known constructions of this character. The post is 'provided with acap 13 which is iitted over the same and extends downwardly some materialvdistanee along the length of the post to minimize any tendency of strains on the cable reacting on the capto remove the same from the postf-The cap is provided at its `upper side with an upstanding iforlr-like member 14 which includes two-prongs 15 coacting to form a link receiving circular socket 16 therebetween. The end of the cfa-- ble 12 islooped through `the end `link 17y of a short length of chain 18 which constitutes, in eilect, a continuation o1c the cable. As tennis nets are usually mounted between a pair of end posts it will be understoodthat the chain connection shown in Figure l is be as generic in their parts as the art will Various other objects and advantages ot' net secured to a post` post for the pure duplicated at the opposite end of the net. b

chain is in `the operative position shown inl tiguous ends 2() and 21 ot the adjacent links.'

ln this way it will be appreciated that any one of the links may be positioned in the socketand the ends ot' the next adjacent links y constitute stops which are spaced apart s0 as to engage the prongsv 15 and in `this way limit any bodily movement of the chain past the post. The surplus end ot tie'chain simply falls loose as indicated in Figure 1, but as tennis nets require relatively small adjustH ment to give them their variously desired tension, a relatively short length of chain may be used and in this way economy in weight is effected. lThe character ot chain used. will depend largely upon the required range oi adjustability in tension on `the net and usually small links will be employed tor obviously the smaller the length ot each link the greater is the possibility ot making small adjustments in the tension on the net.

rlt is hereinsuggested that the cap may be either a separate member trom the post or may constitute a structural parto/r' the post and it is further suggested that the post may be removable with the attachment as a complete unit. For this purpose there is dis closed in Figure 1 a ground anchor Q2 provided `with al post receiving` socket 23 into which the lower end of the post v10 may be inserted.

In such constructions it has been found to be of commercial advantage to make the` post oie metal and in the suggested showing` the post is formed ot metal tube A, the upper end ot which is closed by ythe cap 13. It is obvious within the scope ot the disclosure that the post may be mounted-foriotary movement about its vertical axis so as yto bring the socketl iny line with the net, or the cap may be rotatably mountedl on the post and is preferably in screw threadec engagement with' the post. In this way the cap can be rotated onthe fixed post so as to align the socket with the net. i

In operation the person mounting the nets simply drops one link ot' the chain into the socket ot one pest/,goes to the other post and placing the necessary 4tension on the other chain and-cable draws the chain over the cap. `Vhen the desired -tensionfis attained `the link ldisposed over the post isl Athe fpost,V

Should the net sag during the progress of `the game it issimply necessary to lift up 4the cham at one end of the net and position the next link neaiervthe nettinto theu post socket. 4

While Al vhave, shown andvdescribed, and have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel 'features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions, sub` stitutionsand changesin the torni and `details or the device illustrated and in its operation maybe made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spiritot the invention. p y i Having thus described ymy invention, l claim: i

1. ln av device for securing a tennis net cable undertension, the combinationwith an upright postand a tennis net provided with a cable, of adjustable means tor securing the cable to the post, said means including a cap fitted to the upper en d of the post and provided with a U-sliaped link socketprojecting upwardly therefrom and a link chain secured Ato the cable and adapted Vwhen, the

cable is stretchedI towards the post to have any of theA links of the chain engaging in the Asocket thereby to hold the netin its stretched position.

2. In a device for securing a tennis net cable under tension, the combination with an f uprightpost, and a tennis net providedwith f means for securing the cable to said means `including` a capI providedwith a post receiving socket and with a chain receiving socket `and a chain formed oitV a plurality otl links secured at one end to the cable and adapted when the chain and cable are `stretched towards the cap to have one of the links engagevthe chain receiving socket whereby the vcable may be held securely while under tension. 4

Signed at New York city, inthe county ofNew York and State of New York, this Qthdayof. Oct. D. 1921.

ponerlas V.vieron Eska/ALL,

a. cable, o 

